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Wednesday July 24 2013

ALTOONA FireFIGHTERS SAY FLAMES BROKE OUT TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN A 3RD FLOOR APARTMENT ON THE 27-HUNDRED BLOCK OF BROAD AVENUE AND RON SMITH IS BEING CALLED A HERO FOR RUNNING INTO THE BUILDING TO RESCUE ONE FAMILY. Smith is the Supervisor for Waste Water Maintenance for the Altoona Water Authority. He and his co-worker saw smoke and drove up to the building. THEN SMITH SAVED A MAN AND HIS 2 YOUNG DAUGHTERS WHO LIVED ON THE 2ND FLOOR. AUTHORITIES ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE. THE FAMILY WHO LIVED IN THE 3RD FLOOR APARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING OUT AND THEY WERE NOT HOME. THE FIRST FLOOR IS VACANT.

MAN JUMPS FROM ALTOONA BRIDGE

ALTOONA POLICE SAY A MAN IS RECOVERING AFTER JUMPING FROM JUNIATA’S 8TH STREET BRIDGE ONTO THE TRAIN TRACKS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. HE FELL ABOUT 100 FEET AND WAS TAKEN TO UPMC ALTOONA.

ARMED ROBBER IN CUSTODY

TYRONE Police HAVE arrested 28-year-old CHRISTOPHER MCCUNE FOR MONDAY’S ARMED ROBBERY AT Gardner’s Candies. COPS GOT A TIP FROM A WITNESS AND SEARCHED MCCUNE’S RESIDENCE WHERE THEY FOUND items related to THE HOLD-UP. MCCUNE was taken to the Blair County booking center FOR arraignment.

NCAA SEEKS DISMISSAL

SAYING THE CLAIMS ARE BASELESS, The NCAA IS ASKING a judge to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the family OF Joe Paterno AND MANY OF HIS SUPPORTERS. The NCAA filed its RESPONSE to the civil suit YESTERday AND ASKED FOR A HEARING. TUESDAY marked THE one year ANNIVERSARY OF the NCAA’S TOUGH SANCTIONS AGAINST penn state. The Paternos’ lawsuit asks the court TO OVERTURN the sanctions on the grounds that the NCAA breached its contract with the university when it imposed the penalties without an investigation.

I-80 CRACKDOWN

interstate 80 covers 29-hundred miles from new jersey to california…and state police from 11 states will participate in the “i-80 challenge” starting today. the 8-day enforcement operation’s goal is to have no fatalities on the highway nationwide. troopers remind everyone to obey the posted speed limit, wear seatbelts at all times, and limit distractions. research shows an increase in i-80 fatalities during the summer vacationing period.

BLAIR COUNTY’S MONEY TROUBLES

Blair County COMMISSIONERS SAY THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS A ONE million dollar DEFICIT. the latest financial review SHOWS THAT Revenues are down and expenses are up. DAVE SCOTT, The accountant in charge of the audit TELLS WTAJ THAT the County has the resources on hand to cover the shortfall, But changes will have to be made to protect the County’s financial future.

HIGHER GAS PRICES

TRIPLE A FUEL GAUGE SAYS Western Pa gas prices are up almost 14 cents to $3.67 this week. Today's national average for regular unleaded is ALSO $3.67, 3 cents more than a week ago, 9 cents more than one month ago and 20 cents more than the same day last year.